Call-box.



A. A. CLOKEY.

CALL BOX.

APPLICATION FILEDJUNE23.1915.

mmm Patented Dec.14-,1915.

Hill H l l/ HE Iii l/ H H HI 2/U m5 ,g /m Witnesses: L42) lUNlE @TATPATENT @FllllQ.

ALLISON A. CLOKEY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERNUNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CALL-BOX.

Application filed June 23, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALLISON A. CLOKEY, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Jersey City,county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Call-Boxes. of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic transmitters such asare used in messenger call systems and the like, and are commonly termedcall boxes. Such call boxes are commonly provided with double breakwheels, toothed according to the numher or signal to be transmitted bythe box, and with contact pens adapted to be actuated by such breakwheels, double break wheels and corresponding pens being provided inorder that the box may operate both a metallic return circuit and aground return circuit, according to the well known McCulloh system asset forth, for example, in the patent to M. \V. Hamblin No. 808,451.Such boxes, as heretofore constructed, have been open to the followingobjections:

A. The signal number of a box cannot be changed without first makingspecially a double break wheel to replace the wheel initially furnishedwith the box. This necessitates the return of the box to themanufacturer for the required changes, which is so expensive and causesso much delay and trouble that it is practically never done.

B. Orders for call boxes almost always state the signal number required.In order to furnish any call boxes with the specified signal numbers,they are manufactured and assembled without any break Wheels. When anorder is received, a double break wheel of the required number is madeand placed in the box before shipping. In order that the manufacturermay be able to supply such break wheels promptly it is the practice toprovide a special machine for cutting such break wheels, which machineis idle except at such times as orders for break wheels may come in; andit will be noted that each break wheel must be made specially. Becauseof the necessity of cutting the break wheels according to specifiednumbers, after orders are received, considerable delay in filling ordersfrequently occurs; and because of the comparatively small quantityrequired on each order, the cost of the boxes is unduly great.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Serial No. 35,750.

By the invention herein described I provide a break wheel which isadjustable to a great variety of signal numbers, and whlch may beconstructed in advance of orders and permanently placed in the box and.after being so placed, may be adjusted by relatively unskilled labor toany signal number desired within the capacity of the wheel; and this maybe done either in the shop or in the field and after the box has beenplaced; in other words, the signal number, of the box may be changedfrom time to time after the box is in place and without removing it. Myimproved break wheel does not entail changes inthe mechanism of the box,other than the break wheel itself and its contact pens.

My invention consists therefore, in improved adjustable signalingmechamsm for call boxes and like transmitters; and in an improvedadjustable break wheel.

The objects of my invention are, to make possible the adjustment of callboxes and like transmitters to various signal numbers without removal orreplacement of any element of the mechanism; to make possible theconstruction of such transmitters complete, in advance of orders, andthe adjustment of the boxes to desired signal numbers either when suchboxes are to be shipped or after placement, or at any other time; toemploy the ordinary motor mechanism of such call boxes, without change:to make the adjustment of the boxes to different signal numbers a matterof extreme simplicity capable of being performed by relatively unskilledlabor; and to provide a very simple and inexpensive construction foraccomplishing the above objects.

I willnow proceed to describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features inclaims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 shows a front elevation of one form of callbox embodying my invention, the box being of well known type except asto the features in which my invention resides; the cover of the boxhaving been-removed. Fig. 2 shows a vertical longitudinal section of thebox on the line of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4: are detail front elevations ofthe adjustable break wheel and contact pens therefor, Fig. 3

showing the wheel and pens in a position corresponding to the start of asignal and Fig. 4 showing the parts in positions occupied when one ofthe lower teeth of the wheel are actuating corresponding pens. Fig. 5shows a detail front view of the base 5 member of the break wheel. Fig.6 shows a detail front view of the lower intermediate member of thebreak wheel. Fig. 7 is a detail front view of the upper intermediatemember of the break wheel (the upper member of the break wheel issimilar). Fig. 8 shows a transverse axial section of the complete breakwheel. Fig. i) shows a side elevation of the complete break wheel.

In the drawings, 1 designates the base of the call box having within ita recess 2 for the reception of the mechanism of the call box, and 3designates the cover of the box. As is usual in these call boxes, themechanism comprises movement plates 1 and 5, a driving spring 6. aspring arbor 7 provided with an exterior operating handle 8, and a maingear 9 driving a gear train 1011. 12-13, the last gear 13 of this trainbeing an escapement wheel motion of which iscontrolled by the ordinaryescapement lever 11. The construction of such trains is so well knownthat detailed description or illustration thereof is not believed to benecessary. The mechanism also comprises the usual ratchet and pawlmechanism whereby rotation of the hand piece 8 may wind the spring 6;only the pawl spring 15 of this ratchet and pawl mechanism being shown.The mechanism also comprises suitable arbors for the 0 gear trainmentioned. The break wheel 16 is mounted upon the arbor of the gears 10and 11 of the above mentioned train. The mechanism is provided with theusual stop segment 17 having a stop pin 18 which, when the spring 6 hasbeen fully wound, engages stationary stop pin 19; the segment 17 havingalso the lip 20 with which a stop pin 21 on the under side of the breakwheel engages when, after release of the break wheel, the latter hascompleted one revolution. This driving mechanism, including the stopsegment and stop pins mentioned, is a familiar construction and does notform a. portion of my invention, nor am I limited to the use of thatparticular driving mechanism or any particular driving mechanism.

The base member 16, of the break wheel, has uniformly spaced teeth ofequal lengths about a portion of its periphery, the number of such teethbeing somewhat greater than the maximum number of impulses embodied inany of the signalswithin the capacity of that wheel. The remainingportion, 16, of the wheel, is of slightly greater radius than the radiusof the teeth, and is blank. Upon this base member 16 are mountedblanking segments 16 (shown in Fig; 6), 16 (shown in Fig. 7) and 16(shown in Fig. 4). These segments 16', 16 and 16 are slotted as 55shown, are mounted to rotate about the arbor on which the base member 16is mounted, and, when once adjusted in proper position, may be clampedin place by means of a headed screw 16.

Contact pens 22, 23 and 21 are provided in connection with the breakwheel, and of these pens 23 and 2+ coact with the teeth of the breakwheel as hereinafter described, while pen 22 is arranged to make andbreak contact with pen 23. A further pen 25 is provided which coactswith the stop segment 1? as hereinafter described. The lowerintermediate break wheel segment 16 has a blank portion 16" of adiameter substantially the same as that of the portion 16 of base member16. Obviously the portion 16" of segment 16", if over more or less ofthe teeth of base member 16, will prevent the pens 23 and 2-1 fromengaging such covered teeth of member 16. This segment 16 is employedfor limiting, at one end or the other of the signal, the number of teethof the base member 16 with which the pens 23 and 24: may engage.

The upper intermediate segment, 16, is provided with a short blankingsegment 16 having a raised tooth portion 16; the lower portion of thisblanking segment 16 is approximately of the same radius as the teeth ofwheel 16; while the tooth portion 16" is of approximately the sameradius as portion 16*" of wheel 16; and as shown in Fig. 9, the portions16 and 16 of member 16 are flanged, so as to overlap the edge of 16.

The top segment 16 has a similar blanking portion 16 of the same radiusas the teeth 16 and a raised tooth portion 16 of approximately the sameradius as portion 16 ofbase member 16; and the portions 16 and 16 areflanged, as shown particularly in Fig. 9, to overlap the edges ofsegments 16 and 16.

It will be clear from the above description and from Figs. 3 and 4, thatthe segments 16*, 16, and 16, may be set at various positions so as todivide the toothed portion of base member 16 into a number of differenttooth-groups; and it will be clear that as the pens 23 and 24 ride overthe blanking portions 16, 16, and 16, and 16 and 16", said pens areprevented from dropping into the spaces between the teeth of base member16.

The circuits of the box are indicated in Fig. 1. 26 designates the lineconductor, connected to pens 24 and 25; and 27 is a return conductorconnected to the frame of the box. 28 is a ground conductor connected topen 22; the grounded conductor 28 and pen 22 being employed in orderthat the box may operate, according to the McCulloh system, by means ofa ground connection as Well as by a metallic circuit.

Fig. 1 shows the parts in rest position,

Ill

except that the stop segment 17 is shown in the position occupied whenthe driving spring has been fully wound and the user is about to releasethe operating lever 8 in order to permit the box to send its signal.When the operating lever 8 is released the driving spring 6, driving thegear train, rotates the break wheel in the direction shown by the arrow.In the initial position pen 22 is out of contact with pen 23, and pensE23 and 2e are in connection with each other through the portion 16*"ot' the wheel. \Vhcn the break wheel begins to rotate, and pens 23 and:24 drop oil the blank portion 16- of base member 16, they breakconnection with eachother and with the break wheel, opening the metalliccircuit 26-27; the pen 23 then makes contact with pen 22, as shown inFig. 3. Each time the pens 23 and 24 ride over a tooth of the breakwheel, pens 23 and 24 are first brought into electrical connection, asshown in Fig. 4, thereby grounding momentarily both sides of the circuit2627 through pen 2'2 and at the same time closing the metallic circuit26 27 through pens 23 and 24; and then, as pen 23 drops off such toothof the break whee-l, it loses contact momentarily with the break wheeland with pen 24:, thereby breaking the ground connection of both sidesof the circuit; and when, immediately after, pen 24 drops off such toothof the break wheel, the metallic circuit ZS-27 is broken.

When pens '23 and 24 ride upon the blanking portion 16 or 16 of one orthe other of the segments 16 and 16 the effect is the same as when saidpens ride up on one of the teeth of base member 16; but when these pensride up upon the further raised portion 16" or 16 of one of the segments16 and 16*, the ground connection is broken between pens 22 and 23; andof course, pens 23 and 24 are electrically connected so long as they areboth upon one of the blanking portions 16, 16", or 16 16", of segment 16and 16, so that the metallic circuit 2627 is not broken until both penshave dropped 03 such blanking portion of segment 16 or 16 These blankingportions 16, 16" and 16"" by causing breaking of the ground connection,and by holding connection between pen 24: and, the'break wheel, providethe spaces necessary for separation of numeral groups of the box signalfrom each other.

Upon completion of one rotation of the break wheel the pin 21 engagesthe edge '20 of the stop segment 17, thereby bringing the mechanism ofthe box to rest; and at the same time a lug '29 on the stopsegment 17makes contact with pen '25, thus closing the metallic circuit 26-27entirely independent of contact of the pin 26 with the break wheel, andso insuring that the metallic circuit 26-437 shall remain closed whilethe box is at rest. This extra contact between pen and stop segment" 17insures that dust or the like, such as might happen to be upon the breakwheel, shall not open the circuit 26-27 when the box is at rest; for ifthis circuit 2627 should be open at one box while that box isat rest,the entire circuit, which may contain a great many boxes, would bebroken, and thus all of the boxes be rendered inoperative. Of course,since this box is intended to be operated ac cording to the McCullohsystem, if the circui-t should be opened as just described, the centralstation operator could cure the defect by throwing the usual centralstation McCulloh switch to cause all of the boxes to operate on groundreturn circuits only; but it is preferable to provide the boxes withcontact means, such as brush 25, which shall hold the metallic circuitcomplete through the boxes. when those boxes are at rest; this isespecially so, because trouble due to dust or the like raising the pens2% out of contact with the break wheel, is a trouble which is verydifiicult to locate. The pen is relatively rigid, as compared with theother pens, so that it is adapted to withstand the pressure exertedagainst it by the stop segment .17 due to the strong action of thespring 6; for this reason dust or the like on pen will not prevent agood connection being made between said pen and stop segment 17, themore so as the box mechanism does not come to rest immediately uponcontact of lug 29 of stop segment 17 with brush there being some slidingmotion of this lug 29 over pen '25 before the box mechanism comes torest; and this fact enables the pen 2? to act as a cushion to aconsiderable extent. in arresting the motion of the box mechanism.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A transmitter comprising an adjustable break wheeland a plurality of pens adapted to coact therewith, the break wheelconsisting of a base member, toothed through a portion of itscircumference, and having notches between its teeth, and having also ablank portion of a radius greater than the.

radius of said teeth, and one or more blanking segments mounted uponsaid base member but adjustable angularly with respect thereto, and eachprovided with a radially projecting blanking portion of acircumferentia-l length suiiicientto prevent said pen from dropping intoa notch of the base member covered by such blanking portion and in partof a height greater than the radius of said teeth, two of said pensarranged to contact with each other when passing over the teeth andblank portion of said base member and over the blanking portions of saidsegments but to break contact relatively when they drop into the notchesbetween the teeth of said base member, a third pen arranged to makecontact with one of said first mentioned pens when said first mentionedpens are in said notches or are passing over the teeth of said basemember, such third pen arranged to break such contact when said firstmentioned pens are passing over the larger radius portion of the basemember, or over the larger radius portion of the blanking segments. andmeans for holding said segment or segments in various positions to whichit or they may be adjusted.

2. A transmitter comprising an adjustable break wheel and a pen adaptedto coact therewith, the break wheel consisting of a base member, toothedthrough a portion of its circun'i't'erence, and having notches betweenits teeth, and a plurality of blanking segments mounted one aboveanother on one face of said base member but adjustable angularly withrespect to said base member, and each provided with a radiallyprojecting blanking portion of a height and circumferential lengthsufficient to prevent said pen from dropping into a notch of the basemember covered by such blanking portion, the outer of said blankingsegments having its blanking portion flanged over the edge of theblanking segment beneath, and means for holding said segments in variouspositions to which they maybe adjusted.

3.. A transmitter comprising an adjustable break wheel and a pluralityof pens, the break wheel consisting of a base member, toothed through aportion of its circumference and having notches between its teeth, andone or more blanking segments mounted upon said base member, butadjustable angularly with respect thereto, and each provided with aradially projecting blanking portion of a height greater than that ofthe teeth of said base member, two of said pens arranged to make contactwith each other, one of such pens being arranged also to be actuated bythe teeth and blanking projections of said break wheel, said pensarranged toretain contact one with another during passage of one saidpen over the teeth of said break wheel, but to break contact one withanother when passing over said projecting blanking portion of suchsegment or segments.

4. A transu'litter comprising an adjustable. break wheel and a pluralityof pens, the.

break wheel comprising teeth with notches between its teeth, said teetharranged in groups, the wheel provided with one or more blankingprojections, of a height greater than such teeth, between tooth groups,two of said pens arranged to make contact with each other, one of suchpens being ar 'anged also to be actuated by the teeth and blankingprojections of said break wheel, said pens arranged to retain contactone with another during passage of one said pen over the teeth of thesaid break wheel, but to break contact one with another when passingover said projecting blanking portion or portions of said break wheel.

5. A transmitter comprising a break Wheel and a plurality of pens, thebreak wheel having teeth with notches between its teeth, and having oneor' more blanking projections separating the teeth into groups, and ofgreater height than said teeth, two of said pens arranged to makecontact concurrently with said teeth, a third pen arranged to makecontact with one of said first mentioned pens during the passage of thetwo first mentioned pens over the teeth of said wheel, but to break suchcontact during the passage of the two first mentioned pens over theblanking portion or portions of said wheel.

'6'. A transmitter comprising a break wheel and a plurality of. pens,the break wheel comprising teeth with notches between its teeth andcomprising also one or more blanking projections dividing the teeth intotooth groups and of a' height greater than said teeth, said penscomprising a line circuit pen and another pen both arranged to contactconcurrently with the teeth of said wheel, said pens comprising also agroundcireuit pen contacting with-the second pen during the passage ofthe first two pens over the teeth of said wheel but arranged to breakcontact with said second pen during the passage of said second pen overthe blanking projections of said wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. v

W itncsses:

H. M. Manson, PAUL II. FnANKn.

